Heavy rains from a stalled storm system caused catastrophic flooding in countries including Poland and Slovakia. In September 2024, Central and Eastern Europe was devastated by Storm Boris, which brought unprecedented rainfall and caused rivers such as the Oder and Danube to overflow, flooding large areas. The storm lasted for several days due to unique meteorological conditions, where cold Arctic air masses met warm Mediterranean air.
In September 2024, a slow-moving storm caused heavy rainfall that lasted for several days in central and eastern Europe. Floodwaters inundated entire neighborhoods and forced tens of thousands of people to evacuate flooded towns.
Between September 11 and 18, a low-pressure storm system brought heavy rainfall to parts of Austria, Poland, Slovakia, and the Czech Republic (Czech Republic). The storm was formed when a wave of cold Arctic air invaded southern Europe and met warm, moist air from the Mediterranean. The low pressure system became isolated from the prevailing jet stream (called a interceptor low), allowing it to linger in the area for several days.
According to data from the European Center for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts, the system, named "Storm Boris" by the British Met Office, caused the most serious impact in the Czech Republic and Austria, with rainfall in one week reaching three times that of the entire September. In eastern Austria near Vienna, 215 millimeters (8.5 inches) of rain fell in one week. However, the consequences of all this rain extend beyond the worst-hit areas.
On September 18, the water level along the Oder River in southeastern Poland exceeded the highest warning level set by the country's meteorological institute. The Oder River originates in the Oder Mountains in the Czech Republic and flows north through Poland to Germany. The image above (below) taken on September 20, 2024, shows the river overflowing its banks near Wroclaw and flooding surrounding farmland. The image above shows the same area on September 4 before the storm. Both images were acquired by the Land Imager (OLI) on Landsat 8 and use false color to highlight the presence of water (dark blue).
The Danube River bursts its banks in Slovakia, flooding the capital Bratislava. The image below is a false-color image acquired by OLI-2 on Landsat 9, showing flooded areas along the Danube River on September 21. According to news reports, the relentless rain forced dozens of people to flee their homes.
In the Polish mountain town of Stronie Slaskie, near the border with the Czech Republic, a dam burst and caused deadly flooding. According to the European Union, as of September 20, flooding in Central and Eastern Europe and Italy has displaced more than 25,000 people.
NASA Earth Observatory image, taken by Michala Garrison using U.S. Geological Survey Landsat data.
Compiled from /scitechdaily